obstruer

Forms

obstruer^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin obstruō (“to build in front of; to block”), first as a medical term.^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The Latin verb is formed from ob (“in front of”) and struō (“to build”).^[3][6][7] The form obstruire, recorded in 1531, was ousted by the present form.^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1540 in Tollet's surgery, meaning “to choke, block” a duct or vessel of the body.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Like obstruction, borrowed in the same years, it was at first a word of medicine.^[4][3] In the 18th century it entered general use for blocking or hindering movement through a place (before 1788, Buffon) and, figuratively, for slowing a human activity;^[2][3] Féraud's example of 1788 speaks of an operation that obstructed the channels of trade.^[2][3] The GLLF dates the general sense to about 1780 and the figurative one to about 1776, in Rousseau.^[8]

Timeline

• 1531 – The form obstruire appears.^[2][3]
• 1540 – Obstruer appears as a medical term.^[2][3][4]
• c. 1776 – Rousseau uses it figuratively.^[8]
• Before 1788 – Buffon uses it for blocking a passage.^[2][3]
• 1788 – Féraud records a figurative use about trade.^[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (medicine) To block a duct or vessel of the body; reflexive s'obstruer, to become blocked.^[9][2][7]
2. To block or hinder passage or traffic by putting an obstacle in the way: un camion obstruait la rue.^[9][2][8]
3. (figurative) To hinder or slow the working of an activity.^[3][2]

Word family

• désobstruer

Related words

• obstruction
• construire
• Latin obstruō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 291a
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert